English Electric TV sets - Page 4 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

1100 man · 4th Dec 2022, 12:59 pm

Oh that's very sad

I guess that's the sight we all dread when we power up a tube for the first time in decades. Other tube problems can sometimes be got round, but there's not much you can do when the vacuum's all gone!

I expect the magic they used to glue it together all those years ago has worn off now - mind you we are expecting rather a lot for these things to still work after 70 - 80 years!

Cheers
Nick

Heatercathodeshort · 4th Dec 2022, 3:20 pm

Just a tiny bit of air seeped in otherwise it would be arcing violently. Shame but this is how many of these died. John.

Mikey405 · 4th Dec 2022, 3:41 pm

Hi John.

This was with no EHT connected (just the BK tube tester in "Test" mode) so I can imagine the light-display if I connected up 10KV.

EF80TVVALVE · 4th Dec 2022, 3:42 pm

Sorry to see this Mike, hopefully something can be done to substitute it. It may be worth looking up the old trade articles to modify it for a rectangular tube although suitable brackets and clamps will have to be fabricated.

Mikey405 · 4th Dec 2022, 4:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by EF80TVVALVE

Sorry to see this Mike, hopefully something can be done to substitute it. It may be worth looking up the old trade articles to modify it for a rectangular tube although suitable brackets and clamps will have to be fabricated.

Oh, I'm not beaten yet, Bren.

The cabinet is still going off to a place in Solihull to be tarted up, the metal mouldings on the top and bottom are coming down to Devon to be sprayed, I'll get the gubbins sorted out myself and if a tube should reveal itself then so much the better. John said he might have something (even if there's a small chance of it working then that's great), I have a good T901 tube but that has a wider scanning angle so will need mechanical and possibly electrical modifications, and a pal of mine has a 15" Cossor tube and possibly the mask out of an earlier 1550 - so there are still plenty of opportunities to get the old girl going. And if all else fails then it'll make a nice-looking FM radio.

FERNSEH · 4th Dec 2022, 4:25 pm

Hi Mike,
there's a Cossor 15" CRT upstairs but its only use would be to fill a hole in the set. Very dim picture. It came out from the Baird T23. Might be possible to locate a 15" mask.

DFWB.

EF80TVVALVE · 4th Dec 2022, 4:27 pm

Good stuff Mike, there's certainly plenty of routes you can take with the 1550, the chassis is well suited for CRT modifications really so I'm sure you will get it sorted no matter which route you go for. Didn't mazda also do an all glass 15"? They'll probably be as flat as anything but maybe a good one may exist somewhere.

Mikey405 · 4th Dec 2022, 4:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by FERNSEH

Hi Mike,
there's a Cossor 15" CRT upstairs but its only use would be to fill a hole in the set. Very dim picture. It came out from the Baird T23. Might be possible to locate a 15" mask.

DFWB.

Thanks David. I know of the whereabouts of a 15" tube from on of these sets but whether it's any good is another matter. If all else fails then your Baird tube might be a route to go down (and thank you for the kind offer David) but, to be honest, I think I'd be inclined just to leave the dead tube in there and keep an eye out for another T900. If one turns up then wonderful but if not then that's okay too.

Picture below of the T900 vs the T901...

Mikey405 · 4th Dec 2022, 4:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by EF80TVVALVE

Good stuff Mike, there's certainly plenty of routes you can take with the 1550, the chassis is well suited for CRT modifications really so I'm sure you will get it sorted no matter which route you go for. Didn't mazda also do an all glass 15"? They'll probably be as flat as anything but maybe a good one may exist somewhere.

Thanks Bren. The old girl will definitely live again.

Heatercathodeshort · 4th Dec 2022, 4:50 pm

I have put my head in the loft and the T900 is sitting in a box on one of the shelves. It's very cold up there and I don't want to risk bringing it down into a warm area for testing. It might be the end of it! It's yours Mickey and I hope to test it soon, maybe take the tester into the loft! Regards, John.

Mikey405 · 4th Dec 2022, 4:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort

I have put my head in the loft and the T900 is sitting in a box on one of the shelves. It's very cold up there and I don't want to risk bringing it down into a warm area for testing. It might be the end of it! It's yours Mickey and I hope to test it soon, maybe take the tester into the loft! Regards, John.

Thanks John. That's really good of you. Here's to hoping for some emission and no air.

Mikey405 · 4th Dec 2022, 8:06 pm

Another closer view of that purple glow of doom...

FERNSEH · 4th Dec 2022, 9:54 pm

Attachments show a Mullard MW41-1 that was once in a Bush TUG26.
The date code on the is base D3C, does that indicate the tube was not made in the UK?
Those who know Philips manufacturing codes will know the origins of this tube.
I've always had the suspicion these metal cone tubes were imported.
You can see the attraction of metal cone tubes because of the almost flat screen.
DFWB.

Maarten · 4th Dec 2022, 11:47 pm

I'm not sure since different letters might be used. A few years later, the tube factory in Aachen, Germany used a square as factory symbol while for normal valves the D means Hamburg, Germany. 3C would be march 1953.

Out of curiosity, what's the type code (the other line of code) on this tube?

FERNSEH · 4th Dec 2022, 11:54 pm

Hi Maarten, I'll take another look at the tube tomorrow.

DFWB.

FERNSEH · 5th Dec 2022, 11:27 pm

The other line of the code appears to be "HT". Does that make any sense?

DFWB.

Heatercathodeshort · 7th Dec 2022, 11:57 am

Hello Micky,
Well it's good in parts! I brought it down from the loft and gave it a test. It is low emission but would definitely give a picture. The getter is fine. I will not reactivate it but leave it on all day to see if the needle moves a bit more to the right! It's here if you can't find anything better. Regards, John.

Mikey405 · 7th Dec 2022, 12:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort

Hello Micky,
Well it's good in parts! I brought it down from the loft and gave it a test. It is low emission but would definitely give a picture. The getter is fine. I will not reactivate it but leave it on all day to see if the needle moves a bit more to the right! It's here if you can't find anything better. Regards, John.

That's brilliant news John. Thank you. I don't mind the low emission - if it can display a picture of any kind then that's fine by me. I'll send you a PM.

Thank you again John.

Kind regards.

From Mike.

linescan87 · 7th Dec 2022, 12:34 pm

Big Bertha doing her stuff! Looking forward to seeing a picture on this one Mike.

Heatercathodeshort · 7th Dec 2022, 2:23 pm

The MC tubes do give a good picture. This is a Ferguson 989T from 1951 fitted with a NOS Mullard 16" MW41-1. Brilliant and sharp but the camera shows poor interlace. It is in fact 100%. I think Ferguson sold many more receivers fitted with MC tubes than EE. They produced two models in quality cabinets the 989T was available with a solid oak cabinet.
The 16" 990T was fitted with a similar chassis to the 991T fringe chassis housed in a console cabinet with doors.

4th Dec 2022, 12:59 pm	#61
1100 man Octode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Ventnor, Isle of Wight, & Great Dunmow, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,377	Re: English Electric TV sets Oh that's very sad I guess that's the sight we all dread when we power up a tube for the first time in decades. Other tube problems can sometimes be got round, but there's not much you can do when the vacuum's all gone! I expect the magic they used to glue it together all those years ago has worn off now - mind you we are expecting rather a lot for these things to still work after 70 - 80 years! Cheers Nick

4th Dec 2022, 3:20 pm	#62
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: English Electric TV sets Just a tiny bit of air seeped in otherwise it would be arcing violently. Shame but this is how many of these died. John.

4th Dec 2022, 3:41 pm	#63
Mikey405 Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Solihull, West Midlands and Beaford, Devon Posts: 1,626	Re: English Electric TV sets Hi John. This was with no EHT connected (just the BK tube tester in "Test" mode) so I can imagine the light-display if I connected up 10KV. __________________ G7TRF

4th Dec 2022, 3:42 pm	#64
EF80TVVALVE Octode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 1,433	Re: English Electric TV sets Sorry to see this Mike, hopefully something can be done to substitute it. It may be worth looking up the old trade articles to modify it for a rectangular tube although suitable brackets and clamps will have to be fabricated.

4th Dec 2022, 4:25 pm	#66
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: English Electric TV sets Hi Mike, there's a Cossor 15" CRT upstairs but its only use would be to fill a hole in the set. Very dim picture. It came out from the Baird T23. Might be possible to locate a 15" mask. DFWB.

4th Dec 2022, 4:27 pm	#67
EF80TVVALVE Octode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 1,433	Re: English Electric TV sets Good stuff Mike, there's certainly plenty of routes you can take with the 1550, the chassis is well suited for CRT modifications really so I'm sure you will get it sorted no matter which route you go for. Didn't mazda also do an all glass 15"? They'll probably be as flat as anything but maybe a good one may exist somewhere.

4th Dec 2022, 4:50 pm	#70
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: English Electric TV sets I have put my head in the loft and the T900 is sitting in a box on one of the shelves. It's very cold up there and I don't want to risk bringing it down into a warm area for testing. It might be the end of it! It's yours Mickey and I hope to test it soon, maybe take the tester into the loft! Regards, John.

4th Dec 2022, 8:06 pm	#72
Mikey405 Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Solihull, West Midlands and Beaford, Devon Posts: 1,626	Re: English Electric TV sets Another closer view of that purple glow of doom... Attached Thumbnails __________________ G7TRF

4th Dec 2022, 9:54 pm	#73
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: English Electric TV sets Attachments show a Mullard MW41-1 that was once in a Bush TUG26. The date code on the is base D3C, does that indicate the tube was not made in the UK? Those who know Philips manufacturing codes will know the origins of this tube. I've always had the suspicion these metal cone tubes were imported. You can see the attraction of metal cone tubes because of the almost flat screen. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

4th Dec 2022, 11:47 pm	#74
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: English Electric TV sets I'm not sure since different letters might be used. A few years later, the tube factory in Aachen, Germany used a square as factory symbol while for normal valves the D means Hamburg, Germany. 3C would be march 1953. Out of curiosity, what's the type code (the other line of code) on this tube?

4th Dec 2022, 11:54 pm	#75
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: English Electric TV sets Hi Maarten, I'll take another look at the tube tomorrow. DFWB.

5th Dec 2022, 11:27 pm	#76
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: English Electric TV sets The other line of the code appears to be "HT". Does that make any sense? DFWB.

7th Dec 2022, 11:57 am	#77
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: English Electric TV sets Hello Micky, Well it's good in parts! I brought it down from the loft and gave it a test. It is low emission but would definitely give a picture. The getter is fine. I will not reactivate it but leave it on all day to see if the needle moves a bit more to the right! It's here if you can't find anything better. Regards, John. Attached Thumbnails

7th Dec 2022, 12:34 pm	#79
linescan87 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Meath, Ireland Posts: 551	Re: English Electric TV sets Big Bertha doing her stuff! Looking forward to seeing a picture on this one Mike. __________________ All the best, John Joe www.youtube.com/c/ojnojirishvintagetvandradio

7th Dec 2022, 2:23 pm	#80
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: English Electric TV sets The MC tubes do give a good picture. This is a Ferguson 989T from 1951 fitted with a NOS Mullard 16" MW41-1. Brilliant and sharp but the camera shows poor interlace. It is in fact 100%. I think Ferguson sold many more receivers fitted with MC tubes than EE. They produced two models in quality cabinets the 989T was available with a solid oak cabinet. The 16" 990T was fitted with a similar chassis to the 991T fringe chassis housed in a console cabinet with doors. Attached Thumbnails